Improvement in tobacco-ridgers



I. R. WHITTEMORE.

Tobacco Ridgers.

No. 142,753,. Patented September9,18'73.

.dtlorneys,

AMPHOM 171/0654 Ph'lC m 11/. Xlasaumzs M0053} TATES JOHN WHITTEMORE, OF GHIOOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN TOBACCO-RIDGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,753, dated Si ptember 9, 1873 application filed J une 6, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. WHITTEMORE, of Ohicopee Falls, in the county of Hampden and in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Ridger, Potato-Ooverer, and Hoe; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of tobaccoridgers in which are two scrapers or shearplates, and a revolving wheel following in rear of the same. y

In those heretofore generally used the scrapers or shear-plates have been adjustable out and in only at their front ends, while the rear ends have been pivoted or hinged so as to admit of the front adjustment. The wheel also has been revolving in a frame hinged or pivoted loosely to the machine.

The nature of my invention consists in makin g the scrapers or shear-plates adjustable out and in at their rear as well as their front ends;

- and also in certain mechanical devices whereby the wheel is adjusted up and down, and held rigid in any position desired, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, which represents a perspective view of my machine.

AArepresent two shear-plates constructed in any of the known and usual Ways. These plates are attached, by means of screws (0 a at or near their rear ends, to a slotted curved bar, B, and a suitable distance in front of the same, by other setscrews b b, to another curved bar or platform, 0. This bar or platform C is perforated by a number of holes at each end, by which means the front ends of the shear-plates A A may be brought closer together or farther apart, as desired. The rear ends of the shear-plates may also be adjusted by means of the set-screws a a passing through the slots in the curved bar B, and thus make the ridgewider or narrower, as may be desired. To the front bar or platform 0 are attached the shafts D D, and on top of said bar are secured the handles E E, which are held by braces 61 d to the rear bar B. G represents a wheel with a rim of suitable width, provided with two projections or points, 6 c, opposite each other, as shown. This wheel is placed upon a bent rod or frame, f, the ends of which pass through holes in a flange, i, and are fastened in standards h h, said flange and standards being formed on or attached to the curved and slotted bar B. The standards h h are perforated, as

shown, so. as to change the ends of the rod f either up or down, as desired, to adjust the wheel G up or down, and at the same time hold it steady in whatever position it may be adjusted.

In ridging for tobacco the sides or shear plates A A gather the dirt into a ridge, and the wheel G will smooth and mark the place to set the plant by the projections e e, as the dirt passes out between the sides AA and under the wheel, the sides being left open at the rear end, as shown.

The sides or shear-plates A A may be opened or expanded according to the width of the ridge required; The wheel being adjustable and rigid to the machine, the operator can bear down on the handles in smoothing or covering potatoes, as required.

This machine may be used for covering potatoes or corn, when the sides may be opened or expanded at the rear end enough to let the hill of potatoes or corn, after it is up, pass between the sides without disturbing the hill or plants, making a very great saving of time and labor.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a tobacco-ridger, the sides or shearplates A A, when their rear ends are made adjustable out or in, as well as their front ends, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the perforated standards h h and flange 17, formed on or attached In testimony that I claim the foregoing I to the bar B, the Wheel G, and frame or rods have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th f, substantially as and for the purposes here- (lay of June, 1873.

in set forth. JOHN R. WHITTEMORE. [L. s]

3. The combination of the sides or shearplatesA A, made adjustable at both ends, Witnesses:

bars 13 G, and the adjustable wheel G, at- M. H. DALTON,

taohed rigidly to the machine, all substzm- J. V. BURGESS.

tia-lly as and for the purposes herein set forth. 

